Sen. Ed Markey secured the party nomination Saturday at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention, taking in 2,744 votes for 73.94% to challenger Congressman Seth Moulton’s 1,018 (26.06%) at the DCU Center in Worcester.
Prior to the delegate vote, Moulton addressed the party first, launching the attack on President Donald Trump and Republicans, also notably promising to not vote for Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to return as Senate President if Democrats take the chamber in the 2026 election.
“I will not vote for Chuck Schumer for Senate leadership and follow the establishment in Washington,” promised Moulton.
The move against a member of his own party highlights Moulton’s need to separate himself from Markey, who for the most part he is ideologically aligned with. Moulton called out Markey’s old age and his over 50 years in Congress to highlight a need for a younger, fresher Senator.
Moulton also called on Markey to join him for multiple debates before voting begins in the primary election. Markey has already accepted one debate against Moulton, set this summer, but has declined several other requests, including the first-ever interparty primary debate in Massachusetts with Moulton and Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton.
Markey walked on stage to a vastly larger round of applause and standing ovation, taking the same tune against Trump to start off his speech to delegates. The incumbent also made his evergreen promises to fight for a Green New Deal, universal healthcare, a Trans Bill of Rights, and an ultra-wealth tax, among other things.
The incumbent then went on the attack against Moulton for his 2024 comments regarding trans athletes participating in girls’ youth and collegiate sports.
“That’s why this Senate race is so important, because you have a choice. You have to decide what the future looks like, and what you are going to demand from your United States Senate. Because Massachusetts deserves a senator who stands with the trans kids who voted for him,” Markey said to an eruption of applause.
Markey was referring to comments Moulton made in November 2024, when he said that he doesn’t want his daughters “getting run over on the playing field by a male or formerly male athlete.” Moulton was criticized nationally by Democrats, including the state Democratic party, for the comments. He originally defended his opinion before later walking the comments back.
Platner campaign crashes MassDems Convention
Campaign materials for Graham Platner, the controversial Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine, was spotted all over the DCU Center.
Platner staffers were seen walking around the arena with signs soliciting volunteers for the campaign, even sharing table space in the concourse with Markey’s reelection campaign. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who also addressed delegates Saturday, has fully backed Platner in his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
The unexpected appearance by Platner’s staff at a Massachusetts political event comes as he has seen waning support among the Democratic Party for his now infamous tattoo featuring a Nazi-affiliated symbol and his controversial actions prior to launching his senate campaign.
Warren, alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), has co-hosted multiple campaign speeches for Platner throughout Maine and has advocated for his candidacy in national television interviews over the past month.
Notable speakers
The convention featured a lineup of uncontested candidates who make up the Democratic heavyweights of Massachusetts. All political candidates who took part in the speaking program are uncontested in the primary race.
Nearly every speaker focused their speeches on attacking Republicans and President Trump, forsaking significant talk of individual ideas like fixes to affordability in Massachusetts, which has been stymied by the likes of soaring energy prices, a lack of available housing, and a steady stream of outmigration by businesses and residents.
Sen. Warren jumped right into her criticism of Trump and Republicans on everything from the economy, healthcare access, U.S. military action in Iran and more.
“President Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Remember that’s what he said? On day one. It is now day 496 and costs are up,” Warren said to delegates. “Thanks to Donald Trump and Republicans, Americans are literally selling their plasma to pay their bills.”
Warren did not mention her support of Platner.
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio was the only elected Democrat to speak about issues directly impacting Massachusetts residents, starting off by performing her now-routine song and dance on the voter-approved audit of the Legislature she is seeking to carry out.
“I know that our federal delegation has been sending that message on Capitol Hill, of a lot of fear when it comes to the Trump administration. But how many of you in this room today know that we have our own fight for democracy to battle right here at home in our own state government?” DiZoglio said to delegates after her singing performance. “This transparency movement has become about so much more than a single audit.”
Other notable speakers included Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), Attorney General Andrea Campbell, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg and Secretary of State Bill Galvin. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty also addressed delegates.
All elected officials in uncontested primaries earned the party nomination.